Australia’s premier regional city, Cairns is the international gateway to Tropical North Queensland. It is a vibrant cosmopolitan city and its residents enjoy an enviable tropical lifestyle.

Cairns residents are also proud custodians of two of the world’s greatest natural treasures – the Great Barrier Reef and the Wet Tropics Rainforests. Both of these wonderful attractions are World Heritage listed, and there are very few places on Earth where two such treasures rest side by side.

Immerse yourself in the aqua and green colours of the reef and rainforest coastline or the rustic ochres and open spaces of the Outback and Cape York Peninsula wilderness areas that are home to mythical geological and cultural wonders.

Serene settings include the Cairns Highlands, a patchwork of farmlands, rainforest and lakes offering you a cool rural retreat from the coast and the beachside hamlets that make up the Great Green Way.

Cairns’ serene beaches which stretch along the coast include the popular boutique destinations of Palm Cove, Port Douglas, Cape Tribulation and Mission Beach and other quiet beach havens such as Trinity Beach and Yorkey’s Knob. While offshore ten of the Great Barrier Reef’s tropical islands sit atop the azure waters off the coast.

Port Douglas is located in Tropical North Queensland, 70 kilometres north of Cairns and 1,780 kilometres north of Queensland’s capital city, Brisbane. A regular shuttle service operates from Cairns airport, and there is also a daily catamaran service between Cairns and Port Douglas. Summer temperatures range between 19 and 36 degrees Celsius, while in winter the range is 11 to 29. The Greening season, December to April, offers high humidity with frequent rain showers, while in May to November the climate is dry, with clear skies and comfortable temperatures day and night.

Port Douglas is blessed not only by its tropical climate, but also by its proximity to nature at its finest. It is an ideal point from which to explore the Great Barrier Reef, and it is gateway to the Mossman Gorge, Cape Tribulation and Daintree National Park, which at its southerly end is about 30 kilometres by road from Port Douglas.

We recommend at least 4-5 days in this region. You will need at least one full day each to visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Daintree Rain-forest. There are plenty of options in this region for everyone… whether you are honeymooners from Denver or retirees from Tulsa.

To see read more about this region and the best time to travel to Australia click on the link.